Adhesive tab



Oct. 31, 1961 c. E. F. WILLIS 3,006,568

ADHESIVETAB Filed March 2, 1960 United States Patent 3,006,568 ADHESIVE TAB Claude Edward Frederick Willis, London, England, assignor to R. W. Crabtree & Sons Limited Filed Mar. 2, 1960, Ser. No. 12,314 7 Claims. (Cl. 242-585) This invention relates to means for use in preparing a web to enable it to function as the replacement roll to replace the web supply to a web consuming machine such as a printing machine: in such an operation the web in use and the periphery of the replacement roll are pressed against one another in a tangential relationship at which time the two become united by an adhesive pre-applied to the end of the web of the replacement roll whereby the web in use draws off the web of the replacement roll and so efiects the required renewal.

The replacement roll is commonly accelerated from rest so that it has a circumferential speed approximating to that of the speed of the web in use thereby enabling the renewal to be achieved without stopping the supply of web material: it is therefore necessary to hold the end of the web of the replacement roll to its body while the replacement roll is rotating prior to the actual renewal. At the same time the hold must be such as to enable the end of the web of the replacement roll to detach itself easily at the time of renewal.

Various forms of tabs have been prepared for that purpose, and it is the main object of the present invention to provide an improved form of tab which can easily be applied and which will provide, without requiring the exercise of skill or judgment by the user, a sufficient force to hold the end of the web to the body of a roll while it is being rotated and yet will enable the web to be readily drawn from the roll in the web-renewing operation.

According to the present invention the tab comprises two pieces of material (which is most conveniently paper) which are joined face to face by an adhesive having a major extent in the length of the paper pieces: in addition, the outer faces of the two pieces are respectively prepared to be adhered to the under face of the leading end of the web (this piece being termed the upper piece) and to the surface of the body of the roll exposed by lifting the leading end (this piece being termed the lower piece); the adhesive on the upper piece is arranged so that when the tab is applied to the leading end of the web only part of it is covered by the leading end so that the remainder is exposed to provide the adhesive by which that leading end becomes united with the running web at the time of renewal.

The adhesives used can be of any known type but it is preferred to employ the self-adhering (or pressure) type so that it is unnecessary to moisten them to make them active at the time of use.

With such a tab the end of the web of a roll is attached to the body of the roll by an adhesive area the major dimension of which extends circumferentially of the roll: in this way the radial hold exerted on the leading end of the web to secure it to the body while the body is rotating can easily be made ample for that purpose while at the same time the tangential relationship between the running web and the replacement roll at the time of renewal sets up a progressive peeling action which sweeps along the length of the adhesive which thus exerts a weaker hold enabling the web to be drawn off with comparative ease.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which FIGURES 1 and 2. are diagrammatic perspective views respectively showing a roll prepared by the fitting of a tab according to this invention and the condition of the tab after the renewing action has been completed. FIGURES 3 and 4 are respectively a per- Patented Oct. 31, 1961 spective view of the tab as such and of the tab fitted to the leading end of the web of the roll before that end is held against the body of the roll.

As is shown in FIGURE 1 and 2, the end 1 of the web of a replacement roll 2 is required to be held to the body of the roll so that when, as is usual, the roll is caused to rotate prior to the renewing operation, the Web shall not unwind or unravel. It is also necessary that when, as is shown in FIGURE 2, the rotating roll 2. and the running web 3 passing from a roll (not shown) which is about to expire are pressed together, the running web 3 and the end 1 shall become joined by an adhesive so that the running Web 3 draws oit the web of the replacement roll.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a preformed tab which shall enable these requirements to be satisfied. The tab comprises two pieces 4, 5 which are joined to one another by adhesive 6 and which have on their outer faces adhesive areas 7, 8 by which the pieces can be attached respectively to the under surface of the web end 1 as shown in FIGURE 4 and then to the outer surface of the roll 2 at the part uncovered by folding back the web end 1 as shown in FIGURE 1, the adhesive area 7 lying beyond the web end as indicated at 7a to serve to join the web end to the running web 3.

The areas 7, 7a and 8 are not critical but the area and form of the adhesive area 6 concerns a critical adhesion which determines the action of the tab: the area has to be sutficient to hold the two pieces 4, 5 together with sufficient tenacity to prevent the web 1 of the replacement roll 2 from unwinding while the roll is rotating and yet at the same time the hold between the two pieces must relatively easily overcome when the web end 1 is caused to adhere by the adhesive area 7a to the running web 3 so that the two pieces 4, 5 part from one another.

This is obtained by forming the adhesive area 6 with the required area but with its major dimension extending as shown lengthwise of the pieces and hence (when the pieces are applied) circumferentially of the replacement roll 2. The area can thus be made adequate to hold the web end 1 down but when the web end 1 is joined to the running web 3 it is so to speak peeled-off progressively along the line of the adhesive 6. The adhesive area 6 can have different formations all, however, such that the major extent of adhesive is lengthwise of the tab (i.e. circumferential of the roll) when the tab is applied: a preferred form of this adhesive is provided as is shown by a T the stem of which extends lengthwise of the tab and the cross limb of which is arranged at the trailing end (regarded in the sense of rotation) of the stem of the T and just within the outer end of the exposed adhesive 7 on the upper piece 4: as is shown, the limbs of the T can be broken or they could be continuous.

The adhesive area 6 can consist of any kind of adhesive but it has been found convenient to use a heat setting adhesive so that the extent of adhesion is predetermined when the tab is manufactured and is not left to the judgement of the user: such adhesive could be applied to one or both of the opposed faces of the two pieces 4, 5 and rendered active over the desired extent by a heated tool having the required shape.

It is important that after the two pieces 4, 5 have parted by the running web 3 drawing oft" the web 1 of the replacement roll, any adhesive 6 which joined the two pieces and which (as is shown in FIGURE 2) has become exposed shall not be active to adhere to the rollers and other parts of the machine through which the web passes; this action is afl orded by the use of heatsetting adhesive as referred to but any other kind of adhesive could be used to pre-join the two pieces 4, 5 provided it will satisfy this important operating condition.

itself so that the adhesive remains covered after the web of the replacement roll is drawn off by the running web.

It will be clear that tabs in accordance with this invention can be pre-prepared in large quantities with a pre calculated' adhesion between the two pieces 4, 5 leaving nothing to the skill of the operator for the force of adhesion is pre-fixed in the production of the tabs.

The adhesive 7, 8 on the outer faces of the two pieces 4, 5 would be protected prior to use by protecting sheets 9, which are removed when the tab is required for use.

It is advantageous to extend as is shown the protecting sheet 9 for the upper piece 4 beyond the end of that piece: this projecting part can be partly folded back as shown in FIGURE 4 to expose only the part 7 of the adhesive 7, 7a whereupon the thus opened end can be slipped over the end of the leading end 1 of the web and secured to it by the exposed adhesive area 7. The covering 19 for the adhesive 8 on the lower piece 5 can then be folded back to expose the major part of the area of the adhesive 8 on its outer face: the end of this covering 10 and the covering 9 can be used as a tongue to pull the leading end snugly around the body of the roll at which time the exposed adhesive 8 on this piece 5 can be pressed down on to the body to adhere to it. Finally, the covering 9 which was folded back is completely removed so exposing the remainder 7a of the adhesive which is now ready to adhere to the running web 3 at the moment of renewal.

The protecting pieces 9, 10 can be secured together by a piece of adhesive tape which passes from piece to piece around the leading edge of the web: this serves to connect the two tab pieces together when they are being handled: it also serves as a connecting link enabling the protecting piece 10 (when peeled back to expose the adhesive 8 to connect the tab to the body of the roll) to be gripped to pull the web around the body of the roll before being pressed against it for adherence. It may be added that, when the adhesive 6 connecting the two pieces 4, 5 of the tab is a T form, the cross limb of the T provides a grip at the leading end of the web to minimise the chance of stripping the lower piece from the upper piece when the protecting strip 10 is being peeled off.

I claim: t

1. For releasably holding the free end of the web of a web-roll to the body of the roll while the roll is rotating, a tab comprising two portions having adhesive areas on their remote faces, adhesive areas between said two portions having their major dimension extending lengthwise of the tab, said tab also including portions applied to the adhesive areas of the remote faces of said first-named portions to protect them before use and which provide tongues for pulling the tab and the free end of the web when the tab is applied to the latter. 7

2. For releasably holding the free end of the web of a web-roll to the body of the roll while the roll is rotating preparatory to being joined to a moving web, a tab comprising two portions having adhesive areas over their remote faces for application respectively to the periphery of the roll body and to the moving web, and areas of releasable adhesive normally joining the adjacent faces of said portions, said releasable adhesive having a major dimension lengthwise of the tab from its leading end back to a line of such releasable adhesive extending transversely of the tab at a point substantially spaced from the free end of the tab.

3. A tab of the type defined in claim 2 wherein said areas of adhesive between the adjacent faces of said portions of said tab are of a pre-set heat-setting separable adhesive.

4. For releasably holding the free end of the Web of a web-roll to the body of the roll while the roll is rotating preparatory to being joined to a moving web, a tab comprising two portions having adhesive areas over their remote faces for application respectively to the periphery of the roll body and to the moving web, areas of releasable adhesive normally joining the adjacent faces of said portions, said releasable adhesive having a major dimension lengthwise of the tab from its leading end back to a line of such releasable adhesive extending transversely of the tab at a point substantially spaced from the free end of the tab, the tab also including portions applied to the remote faces of said first-named portions to protect them before use and which provide tongues for pulling the tab and the free end of the web when the tab is applied to the latter.

5. A tab of the type defined in claim 4 wherein said adhesive area between said two portions of said tab is of a pre-set heat-setting separable adhesive.

6. For releasably holding the free end of the web of a web-roll to the body of the roll while the roll is rotating preparatory to being joined to a moving web, a tab which comprises two portions having over their remote faces adhesive areas of a self-adhering adhesive for application respectively to the periphery of the roll body and to the moving web, said two portions having contacting faces provided with areas of a pre-set heat-setting separable adhesive, said areas of said heat-setting adhesive having their major dimension extending lengthwise of the tab from its leading end back to a point substantially spaced from such end and including a line of such adhesive at such point extending transversely of the length of the web.

7. For releasably holding the end of a web-roll to the body of the roll while the roll is rotating, a tab which comprises two portions in face-to-face relation and pro vided therebetween with a line of separable adhesive which extends centrally of the width of said portions and lengthwise thereof, said portions being further provided therebetween with a line of separable adhesive, extending transversely of the longitudinal center of the tab and of a length shorter than said lengthwise portion of such adhesive, said lengthwise portion of adhesive being arranged in a single relatively narrow line, the remote faces of said two portions of said tab having adhesive areas which are protected when the tab is not in use by additional portions which lie over such adhesive areas and which provide pulling tongues to pull on the tab when they have been applied to the free end of the tab so as to pull the free end around the roll preparatory to applying the tab to the periphery of the body of the roll.

Horton Aug. 27, 1940 Gibson Jan. 12, 1960 

